The Tigers are 16-23 with just one game left to the quarter point of the season. The Tigers got their share of base runners with nine hits and four walks but they hit into two double plays and they stranded nine men. Matt Joyce belted his second homer of the season and Carlos Guillen doubled home Placido Polanco for the Tigers only two runs of the game in the 3-2 loss.

Nate Robertson had his best start of the season go to waste. He gave up just two runs on ten hits without a walk and he struck out two in seven innings. He needed just 82 pitches to get through those seven frames.

Francisco Cruceta got off to a nice start in the eighth inning when he got the first two batters but he gave up a double to Jose Guillen and a then he walked Brett Butler. Mark Teahen then hit one up the middle and while Edgar Renteria made a nice play to get there, he did this goofy backhanded flip that was no where close to the bag. This allowed Guillen to scamper home for what would eventually be the game winning run. It’s a catch-22. He could have held on and had no chance of getting the out, yet held the bases loaded. Instead, he took the chance to get out of the inning and it backfired.

On Sunday, I talked about how Magglio Ordonez seems to be one of the big drives in the Tigers wins. He finished zero for four and of course the Tigers lost.

Justin Verlander gets the nod tomorrow and he’ll face rookie Luke Hochevar. I’m interested in seeing how this number one draft pick throws and it’d be nice if Justin Verlander can turn his season around.

It seems the Tigers’ problems are mental right now. They went from underdog to favorite between the 2006 ALCS and WS, and ever since they seem to struggle with that status. This team needs to play like they’ve got nothing to lose, especially now that they have a record to match.